Coaching archetypes

[ZachTheZip]

JD Brookhart's contract is up after this season, and chances are that it won't be renewed.What type of coach do you want to see UA hire next?

[g-mann17]

Ideally it would be an up and coming coordinator from a winner (you listed Top 10) but it should be a BCS school that has had some major role in recruiting.This coaching situation, this year, will show how serious Proenza and the Board are about the goals they set forth for UA athletics. If they stick with JD (and some could not blame him for failing this year, 14 key players missing) it says "The status quo of mediocrity is fine."If they go after a Mike London (Brian Kelly type) it says "We want to change, but we don't want to risk paying too much"If they go after a Top 10 BCS coordinator and open the pocket books (likely requiring 400-600 thousand a year and major bonuses) it says "Yes we do want to change everything here, losing is not an option and we will back it up by any means necessary"A former BCS coach (Bowden, Mason) says "We are just trying to appease the masses and hopefully something good will happen"

[Dr Z]

I voted "something else" I want a guy that can win. I don't care if he is coaching Pop Warner.Pro style offense, base 4-3 defense and normal punts. Pretty much the opposite of what we have.

[xu9697]

Ideally it would be an up and coming coordinator from a winner (you listed Top 10) but it should be a BCS school that has had some major role in recruiting.This coaching situation, this year, will show how serious Proenza and the Board are about the goals they set forth for UA athletics. If they stick with JD (and some could not blame him for failing this year, 14 key players missing) it says "The status quo of mediocrity is fine."If they go after a Mike London (Brian Kelly type) it says "We want to change, but we don't want to risk paying too much"If they go after a Top 10 BCS coordinator and open the pocket books (likely requiring 400-600 thousand a year and major bonuses) it says "Yes we do want to change everything here, losing is not an option and we will back it up by any means necessary"A former BCS coach (Bowden, Mason) says "We are just trying to appease the masses and hopefully something good will happen"

Mike London will be UVA's next coach. Mark it down.

[zip37]

The FB program hasn't been the same since Dennison, so who is hired is critical, I just hope that they get it right this time. The FB prograam has crashed, hopefully whomever comes in will prevent it from burning.Best of fortune upcoming [i hope] search committee. PS If I remember correctly, JDB was a successful asst.

[zff]

JD Brookhart's contract is up after this season, and chances are that it won't be renewed.

Not so fast my friend.....SourceAkron Coach Gets New Contract J.D. Brookhart signs a new five year deal Nov. 9, 2006AKRON, Ohio (AP) -Akron football coach J.D. Brookhart has signed a new five-year contract, a reward for leading the Zips to a pair of firsts last season.After nearly two decades of disappointment since moving up from Division I-AA in 1987, Akron won its first Mid-American Conference championship and played in its first I-A bowl game in 2005.Brookhart's contract, announced by the school Wednesday, will keep him on the Zips' sideline through the 2010 season. The deal replaces a five-year contract the 41-year-old coach signed when he was hired in December 2003.The Zips are 17-16 in Brookhart's two-plus seasons. They finished last season 7-6, including a 31-30 victory over Northern Illinois in the MAC title game and a 38-31 loss to Memphis in the Motor City Bowl.

[ZachTheZip]

JD Brookhart's contract is up after this season, and chances are that it won't be renewed.

Not so fast my friend.....SourceAkron Coach Gets New Contract J.D. Brookhart signs a new five year deal Nov. 9, 2006AKRON, Ohio (AP) -Akron football coach J.D. Brookhart has signed a new five-year contract, a reward for leading the Zips to a pair of firsts last season.After nearly two decades of disappointment since moving up from Division I-AA in 1987, Akron won its first Mid-American Conference championship and played in its first I-A bowl game in 2005.Brookhart's contract, announced by the school Wednesday, will keep him on the Zips' sideline through the 2010 season. The deal replaces a five-year contract the 41-year-old coach signed when he was hired in December 2003.The Zips are 17-16 in Brookhart's two-plus seasons. They finished last season 7-6, including a 31-30 victory over Northern Illinois in the MAC title game and a 38-31 loss to Memphis in the Motor City Bowl.

Ah. I knew it expired either this year or next. I thought I had read that it was after this year.

[ZachTheZip]

Look at our past D-IA hires and where they came from.Faust was a former BCS-type coach.Lee Owens was a high school coach.JD Brookhart was a BCS coordinator.Washed up BCS coaches rarely work out for smaller schools. Coordinators don't have the experience of managing an entire team, especially if they are coming from another program.In contrast, Dennison was hired from within, starting out as an assistant coach under Gordan Larson. He came up through the program and was familiar with it. If we can't get a top 1-AA or D-II coach, I think it's time we looked inward. Look at how the defense is playing. Maybe coach Fleming, free from JD, could shape up the team. Maybe Walt Harris can coach the team.

[Let'sGoZips94]

I voted "A successful coach from a lower division". Those lower divisions are still college football. Last time I checked, Appalachian State beat Michigan. Coaches who can coach win, no matter what. Right now, I think we have the talent to be successful once we figure out how to catch a ball and get healthy.

[tbozeglav]

I voted "A successful coach from a lower division". Those lower divisions are still college football. Last time I checked, Appalachian State beat Michigan. Coaches who can coach win, no matter what. Right now, I think we have the talent to be successful once we figure out how to catch a ball and get healthy.

I am in agreement here. A successful FCS coach would be a perfect fit for our program right now. It wouldnt be a drastic change in size and talent level and he would probably be able to succeed rather quickly. Personally, not every successful coordinator is a good head coach. In fact, Id be willing to bet most aren't. There are exceptions, both in the NFL and FBS, but I believe this to generally be true.

[GP1]

I want a coach who believes there is currently enough talent on the team to win next year and has a plan for how to change the culture of the team and a plan for turning losers into winners. No gimmicks wanted.We should not discount a coach because he had a similar background as our other coaches. One thing to understand is we could get a guy with JD's exact background and get different results. It's all about the vision for the program.

[Hilltopper]

I want a coach who believes there is currently enough talent on the team to win next year and has a plan for how to change the culture of the team and a plan for turning losers into winners. No gimmicks wanted.We should not discount a coach because he had a similar background as our other coaches. One thing to understand is we could get a guy with JD's exact background and get different results. It's all about the vision for the program.

Thats why I voted for a succesful lower division head coach. Someone who has already proven they could build a winning program. I don't think we are talentless, just that the coaching staff doesn't know how to tap into what we have.

[zen]

If they go after a Top 10 BCS coordinator and open the pocket books (likely requiring 400-600 thousand a year and major bonuses) it says "Yes we do want to change everything here, losing is not an option and we will back it up by any means necessary"A former BCS coach (Bowden, Mason) says "We are just trying to appease the masses and hopefully something good will happen"

I'm not sure if I agree with how you score these two. A top BCS coordinator has not proven top level leadership and management... only focused success at best. A former BCS coach, may temporarily appease the masses, but that lasts only as long as they win. Chalk up a few losses, and appeasement ends. "...and hopefully something good will happen" is true for any option in your list.A former BCS coach has experience running a program. This does not inherently equate to success on the field, but it leaves less unanswered variables than the rest of your options.

[g-mann17]

If they go after a Top 10 BCS coordinator and open the pocket books (likely requiring 400-600 thousand a year and major bonuses) it says "Yes we do want to change everything here, losing is not an option and we will back it up by any means necessary"A former BCS coach (Bowden, Mason) says "We are just trying to appease the masses and hopefully something good will happen"

I'm not sure if I agree with how you score these two. A top BCS coordinator has not proven top level leadership and management... only focused success at best. A former BCS coach, may temporarily appease the masses, but that lasts only as long as they win. Chalk up a few losses, and appeasement ends. "...and hopefully something good will happen" is true for any option in your list.A former BCS coach has experience running a program. This does not inherently equate to success on the field, but it leaves less unanswered variables than the rest of your options.

I think that a Charlie Strong would be more successful than a Glen Mason.Like I said the option I want is not practical (cost too much) but I would disagree with anyone who says that a Lane Kiffin or Chip Kelly (successful coordinators and recruiters at a school) is an inferior selection to Terry Bowden (ran out of his school for failure to perform). The problem with your assertion that "a former BCS coach has experience running a program" is that if said BCS coach was successful, why is he currently available? I believe that is what a lot of you refer to as "the Faust". We don't need a Faust, we need a Chip Kelly, Brian Kelly, (ie Mike London; dreaming of Charlie Strong), someone who expects success, knows what it's like, and knows how to lead.

[zen]

I suspect most coaches have a curve.This is just my wacky hypothesis, but you want to find someone ahead of the curve... who will not only be a leader (you would hope) and manager, but who will innovate and adapt a successful philosophy on the field. Many older and more experienced coaches have experience with leadership and management of a program, but may be washed up, or behind the curve on the current state of the product on the field. Ideally, you need to discover someone who has a big curve potential, and grab them. How do you spot the curve? It's just an x-factor if you don't know what to look for.

[johnnyzip84]

I voted for "lower division", but I'd prefer to stay within FCS (!-AA) unless a D-2 coach really "wows" them. I would really scour the Missouri Valley for candidates (and NO, eguins, we are NOT taking Heacock off of your hands ), because as I've stated on other threads, I believe if you can win there you can win in the MAC. Year in and year out the top teams in that league are very competitive with the top teams in the MAC. Plus, the recruiting regions are not that much different. I'm not saying I would be head-strong to hire a guy with this type of resume, but I'd like to start there.

[Dr Z]

I voted "something else" I want a guy that can win. I don't care if he is coaching Pop Warner.Pro style offense, base 4-3 defense and normal punts. Pretty much the opposite of what we have.

Can I have more than one vote? Today I want to vote for a defensive coordinator as our next coach.PS NOT Akron's. Maybe it's just part two of my first vote. I think I can get both wishes.Oh yeah, and he has to have played linebacker in the NFL at some point and time. Maybe tight end, but I prefer linebacker.

[ZachTheZip]

We should hire Bill Cowher!

[xu9697]

I guess someone like Dan Hawkins would be a "someone else" vote. Successful NON-BCS coach, unsuccessful BCS coach who is nowhere near retirement.Mentioning former BCS coaches:Glen Mason was "successful", based on what you think success would be at Can't, Kansas and Minnesota. Bob Davie was not. Both retired. One out of football for 7+ years, the other for less than 2 years. If we are looking at other MAC schools and their hirings, obviously the Mason hire looks a lot like the Solich hire. Personally, I still go back & forth with Mason. He would not be my #1 or #2, but he would be in the 6 or 7 that I would interview (if he is interested). We have to try and trust in Proenza/Wistrcill.

[Dr Z]

If we are looking at other MAC schools and their hirings, obviously the Mason hire looks a lot like the Solich hire.

I like the Temple hire better.

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

I hear that there is this fantastic NFL coach, Mangenius or some such, who would be just great for the Zips starting next year. Actually I'd love a passionate lower division guy who can recruit and put a solid team on the field. I'd prefer an innovative offensive mind because I think that part of what UA football should be is entertaining for a change. Just not entertaining in a 3-3-5 defensive kinda way!Whoever they grab, I want to know what the staff will be paid. If they continue to pay gutter wages (relative to other D-1 programs) than we'll continue to see gutter football here long term. I hope that UA becomes known as a place that is attractive as hell to up-and-comers because of the facilities, the football budget, the coaching salaries and the drive to be a winning program. Without those things, we could bring Pete Carroll in here and still be losers ten years from now.

[johnnyzip84]

While I already voted for "lower division" coach, there IS one guy on the current staff who I hope get's a chance to interview. That would be, of course, Vince Okruch. If he's not considered for the HC spot, I really hope he get's some consideration for DC. He's been a very successful DC over the years. I wonder how much of Brian Wagner's success this year can be attributed to Vince? I know it's not very common (but certainly not unheard of) for a coach from a previous staff to be retained by the new HC. I think in this case, it might be a big plus to have Vince aboard to assist with the transition. It's just a thought.

[Zipmeister]

I voted for something else. I think anyone from this league ( http://www.afl.com.au/ ) would fit great with a Fear the Roo culture.

[UA Fan]

I hear that there is this fantastic NFL coach, Mangenius or some such, who would be just great for the Zips starting next year.

I saw something about Jon Gruden the other day. Is he going to get another NFL HC opportunity? Would he settle for NFL assistant or would he rather HC a college team? I suppose the MAC $$ would be too much of a comedown for him..

[xu9697]

While I already voted for "lower division" coach, there IS one guy on the current staff who I hope get's a chance to interview. That would be, of course, Vince Okruch. If he's not considered for the HC spot, I really hope he get's some consideration for DC. He's been a very successful DC over the years. I wonder how much of Brian Wagner's success this year can be attributed to Vince? I know it's not very common (but certainly not unheard of) for a coach from a previous staff to be retained by the new HC. I think in this case, it might be a big plus to have Vince aboard to assist with the transition. It's just a thought.

Agree completely. As an example, Jeff Jagodzinski at BC kept a few of BC's coaches, including long-time DC Frank Spaziani, who is now the HC. Of course, in that situation, the AD had been there 10+ years and told Jags that Spaziani and a couple others were not going anywhere.